God's Role Model as Neighbor

ROLE MODEL

God's Role Model as Neighbor
Pastor Aaron Sutherland  

SERIES SCRIPTURE:

Ephesians 5: 1-2 "Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children.  Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us."

I. GOOD NEIGHBORS OFFER A LIMITLESS LOVE
Luke 10:25-29 "And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, 'Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?' He said to him, 'What is written in the Law? How do you read it?' And he answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.' And he said to him, 'You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.' But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'"

II. GOOD NEIGHBORS OFFER A SACRIFICIAL COMPASSION
Luke 10:30-32 "Jesus replied, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.'"
 

III. GOOD NEIGHBORS OFFER AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION
Luke 10:33-35 "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  And the next day he took out two denarii  and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said, 'The one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise.'”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How have I allowed my love for others to be limited?

2. What does sacrificial compassion look like in my daily life?

3. What are some new things is Jesus calling me to, that I have been hesitant to embrace?